Core barrel valve



Allg. 418, 1931. Q Q ANDERSON 1,818,981

CORE BARREL VALVE Filed May 31, 1930 y RQAADERSON /NVENTOR BY /fm ATTORNEY .Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REXFORD O. ANDERSON, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS CORE BARREL VALVE Application mea may 8i, 1930. serial No. 458,801.

My invention relates to valves to be placed in fluid conveying lines to close the passage therethrough after the Huid has acted on the valve for a predetermined time.

The device has its particular-application to core drills employed in deep well operations, and has as an obJect the provision at the upper end of a core barrel of a valve, which will remain closed while the device is being inserted into the hole but which will open while the lower end of the well is bemg washed, and which will be closed thereafter to prevent access of the flushing iuid to the interior of the core barrel while the core is being taken.

The principal improvement lies in the use f an upper valve which will prevent the circulation of mud into the core barrel before the well is washed prior to drilling.

It is my aim to provide a structure of this character2 which is simple and strong in its constructlon and adapted to function positively without failure in use.

Referring to the drawings herewith, Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through a core drill and barrel with my valve applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a similar section of the valve showing the same in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the plane 4 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the plane 4--4 of Fig. 1.

The device is adapted for use on any ordinary type of core drill. I have shown a simple type having a head 1 with its upper end 2 threaded internally to engage the drill stem or collar 9. The interior of the upper shank is reduced in diameter and threaded at 3 to receive the core barrel 8. The lower end of the head is toothed at 4to cut the bottom of the hole. Above the teeth 4, is a core catcher comprisin a sheet metal sleeve 6 with spring fin ers 7 t ereon to engage the core. Longitu inal passages for the flushing fluid connect the space 10 between the stem 9 and the core barrel 8 with the lower end for discharge ofthe` fluid directly upon the material.

At the upper end ofthe core barrel 8 is 'a coupling 11 having a threaded connection with the core barrel and with a guide barrel 12 which extends upwardly in the drill stem. The lower 'end of the coupling has a plurality of supporting radial spokes 13 con- 55 necting .with a central hub 14 shaped to receive a guide rod 15 secured therein and projecting upwardlyin the guide barrel axially thereof.

The upper end of the coupling 11 has its `60 inner wall tapered upwardly to a seat 16, said seat being tapered downwardly to receive a valve 17 slidable on the guide rod.

The valve 17 comprises a lower disc 18 of smaller diameter than said guide barrel. It o6 has a ring 19 of compressible material on its lower side to fit upon the seat 16. Said disc has -an upwardly-extending sleeve or cylinder 20 centrally thereof to receive a piston 21 upon the end of rod 15. Said piston fits loosely in the sleeve or cylinder 20, so that grease or other liquid 22 above the piston can be forced past the piston slowly by pressure. The upper end of the cylinder 20 is slightly enlarged internally at 23 as will be later referred to. The upper end of the cylinder is closed by a threaded plug 24.

At the upper end of the cylinder 20 is a radial ange 26 forming a support for the compressible packing ring 27, adapted to seat upwardly.

The valve and cylinder have radial wings above ithe disc which Contact with the interior lof the guide barrel and hold the valve and cylinder properly centered inthe guide barrel. The upper end of said guide barrel is reduced in diameter at so as to constrict the opening somewhat and limit the upward movement of the valve. :The valve ring 27 will form a seat upon the reduced portion 25 of the barrel to prevent" circulation through said barrel from below.

In o eration, the drill is assembled as shown 1n Fig. 1 with the valve 27 at the upper end of the guide barrel. When the tool enters the heavy muddy Huid in the hole, the valve 27 will not be tightly closed and the barrels 8 and 12 will be filled with uid. As the drill is forced downwardly, however, the valve 27 will tightly close and prevent further :fluid from circulating upwardly While the drill is moved toward the bottom. When caving formations, shale, clay and boulders are encountered in the hole, such material will not enter the core barrel, for the reason that it will be already lilled with muddy water. Thus when the drill reaches the bottom, it may be easily washed out by Water pumped down from the surface through the drill stem, unseating the valve 27 and acting to move it down. The danger of failure of the valve to properly function through material clogged therein from cavings in the hole will be avoided. The pressure of the fluid u on the valve disc 18 will force it downwar y to close the valve, but the rease 22 in the cylinder will be forced but s owing past the piston 21, and it will hence take a predetermined time before the valve is closed. This will allow the well to be thoroughly i'lushedvclear of material before the valve reaches its seat to cut of further iow of fluid through the core barrel.

When the piston reaches the upper end of the cylinder, the larger inner diameter 23 of the cylinder will allow free passage around the head of the remainder of the liquid iny the cylinder and the valve will close abruptly'.

The valve allows the free passage of the drill tothe bottom of the hole, and will thereafter permit thorou h washin of the core barrel and the well ottom be ore it closes. The advantages of this construction will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a core barrel, a guide barrel secured to the upper end thereof, a piston of comparatively small diameter projecting upwardly within said guide barrel, a cylinder telescoping over said piston, and yadapted to be filled with ease, valve seats at both ends of said guide arrel, valves at the upper and lower ends of said cylinder, adapted to move into position to fit said seats and close the passage of fluid therethrou h..

2. In a core barrel, a gui e barrel secured to the upper end thereof, a piston of con@- paratively small diameter projectin upwardly within said (guide barrel, a cylinder telescopmg over sai piston, and adapted to be iilled' with grease, valve seats at both ends of said guide arrel, valves of smaller dia-meter vthan said guide barrel at the upper and lower ends of said cylinder, shaped to fit said valve seats, saidcylinder being adapted to move slowly under fluid pressure to close one or the other of said valves.

3. In a core barrel, a guide barrel secured to the upper end thereof, a piston of com-` parative y small diameter projecting upwardly within said ide barrel, a cylinder telescoping over sai piston and adapted to be lled'with grease, valve seats at both ends of said guide barrel, valves at the upper and lower ends of said cylinder and shaped to t said seats, said cylinder being materially shorter than said guide barrel and adapted to be moved to close one or the other of said seats by fluid pressure.

4. A core barrel, a guide barrel above the same, a coupling connecting said barrels, a

central support in said coupling, a piston on said `support projecting axially upward within said guide barrel, a cylinder closed at its upper end, telescqpin over said piston, and' adapted to be lle with a viscous liquid, valve seats at both ends of said guide b arrel, and means on said cylinder responsive to liquid pressure to slowly move said cylinder to close one .or the other of said4 valves.

5. A core barrel, a guide barrel ,above the 

